Get Cash to ‘Make a Splash’
City of Tacoma Environmental Services awards up to $50,000 each year in environmental grants to help educate residents and protect and restore our surface water resources. Grants can be requested for up to $2,500 and are open to anyone considering a project within Tacoma city limits. Previous Make a Splash grant-funded projects include a marine science summer camp partnership, stream studies, environmental education puppet shows and native planting events completed by schools, community groups, businesses and nonprofit groups. What’s your idea?

Applications are available beginning April 14. The deadline is May 16. For more information, including grant application writing tips, project ideas, funding criteria and more, go to www.cityoftacoma.org/makeasplash or call 591-5588.

Grants available for surface water education, restoration projects; applications due May 16
Plan a field trip, study a creek, plant some native species or even put on a puppet show! The possibilities are endless. Make a Splash environmental grants of up to $2,500 are available from City of Tacoma Environmental Services to any school, group or individual considering a project to help protect and restore surface water resources within the Tacoma city limits.

Past projects have included field trips, science day camps, habitat restoration activities, hazardous waste collection, rain barrel installation and a variety of educational activities. Use your imagination! The $50,000 grant program is funded by the City’s surface water utility rates and is currently in its sixth year.

Application materials for 2008 must be postmarked by May 16, 2008.

For more information or to download an application, go to www.cityoftacoma.org/makeasplash. Or, call (253) 591-5588.

Bill Carter, Book Signing
Elliott Bay Books, 101 S. Main Street
Bill Carter will be appearing at a book signing at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle to promote his new book is titled: Red Summer: The Danger, Madness, and Exaltation of Salmon Fishing in a Remote Alaskan Village

“Red Summer is a wonderful book about a rare subject, the mysterious pleasure of brutally hard work. In this case it is the salmon run in Alaska and Bill Carter proves again that he is a first rate writer in the fascinating tradition of Junger and Krakauer."
-Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall, Returning to Earth

Kitsap County Stream Team Open House
Silverdale Community Center, Evergreen Rm. (9729 Silverdale Way)
Past, Present and Future Volunteers: Join us for our Open House and learn about what Stream Team does and how you can get involved and make a difference in your watershed community. Training sign-ups will be available for those that want to get involved in monitoring a local stream. Educational displays and activities will be availble and all ages are welcome. FREE Contact: Kathlene Barnhart, (360)337-4601, kbarnhar@co.kitsap.wa.us www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/nr/stream_team/default.htm

Penrose Point State Park Beach Walk
Penrose Point State Park
Please join us for the Shellfish Partner’s fourth annual guided beach walk at Penrose Point State Park. This free event is a fabulous afternoon experience for the whole family. Guided along the low tide by WDFW’s marine educator Alan Rammer, the secret lives of starfish, anemones, crab, octopus and more are explored. Afterwards, check out the Harbor WildWatch touch tanks and enjoy a picnic lunch on the park’s beautiful grounds.Please contact Erin (253) 884-9474 or erine@piercecountycd.org for more information or to register www.piercecountycd.org

Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) Annual Conference
Friday Harbor Middle School, San Juan Islands
Fresh water and marine educators from Oregon to Alaska will convene this summer in Friday Harbor for four days of learning, exploring, networking, and inspiration. Conference includes speakers, sessions, field trips, and much more. Visit www.wsg.washington.edu/education/events/name.html for more information and registration materials.